Mutilated memory

Every so often an event comes around that elicits a particularly shameful response from the general public. Every so often an event comes around that elicits a particularly stupid response from the general public. \nUnfortunately for us, the majority of the time shameful and stupid tend to go hand-in-hand. \nSo what am I referring to this week?\nWhy the death of none other than Steve Irwin, also known as "The Crocodile Hunter." \nIrwin was killed last week when he was fatally stung in the heart by a poisonous stingray while shooting a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast.\nHe was famous for filming daring documentaries in which he handled or came in close contact with deadly animals, such as crocodiles. \nWhile there was a general outpouring of sympathy after his death, especially in his native country of Australia, there was an even great number of people who reacted with significantly less dignity. \nI heard many people laugh at the irony of it; others seemed to feel that "He had it coming." The IDS printed the reactions of several students who seemed to share that sentiment. \nIt was a not-so-pleasant surprise to see groups on Facebook.com jokingly referring to Irwin's "man-ish wife" and his "faked death."\nThe lack of respect and humorous attitude many people displayed at his death was appalling. When a construction worker or a miner dies on the job, do people laugh and say "he had it coming?" When a soldier dies, do people say "Duh, what did he expect?" \nGranted those jobs may be viewed by some as more "necessary" than filming potentially dangerous documentaries, but Irwin was first and foremost a conservationist. In fact, he started his career by working for Australia's crocodile relocation program, which captured crocodiles endangered by hunters and moved them to safer locations. \nKnowing all that, I guess I am particularly dumbfounded by the string of "revenge killings" potentially carried out by Steve Irwin fans after his death. Apparently, some devoted followers of The Crocodile Hunter are distraught or enraged enough to go out, cut the tails off of and kill stingrays.\nConfused? I was too. \nWhile this hasn't been confirmed for sure, there is no other explanation for the sudden influx of tail-less, dead stingrays washed up on the Queensland, Australia beaches. Government officials say they are investigating the incidents and there may be prosecution involved. \nThis is one of those moments where one thinks to oneself "Wow, and I thought that kid that got a 760 on the SAT was stupid." \nYeah guys, I'm sure Steve Irwin, a Zoo owner, conservationist and hunting opponent would love the fact that his so-called fans were forming stingray mutilation and death squads. \nCrikey!